Wood River Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
12.8 grains per gallon
Source
river
pH Level
8.4
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.006 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
500 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.59
energy & soap waste
Source: USGS Water Quality Portal · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Wood River, your appliances are currently losing 29% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Wood River | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 2.4 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -72% |
| Washing Machine | 5.5 yrs | 12 yrs | -54% |
| Water Heater | 6.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -55% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Wood River compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wood River, Illinois | 219.5 mg/L | 7.7 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Upper Alton, Illinois | 109 mg/L | 3.9 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
| Alton, Illinois | 215 mg/L | 7.5 ppt | 🔴 Very Hard | river |
| Godfrey, Illinois | 149.5 mg/L | 5.3 ppt | 🟠 Hard | river |
| Spanish Lake, Missouri | 118.5 mg/L | 4.2 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | river |
National Benchmark
How Wood River compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Wood River | 219.5 mg/L | 🔴 High |
| USA National Avg | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Wood River's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Wood River, Illinois, in Madison County — a Madison County city adjacent to Alton and Roxana on the Mississippi River at the Illinois-Missouri confluence — receives its water from Illinois American Water, drawing from the Mississippi River through the southwest Illinois distribution.
The very hard 219.5 mg/L hardness and TDS of 500 mg/L reflect the Madison County supply's very hard Mississippi River limestone character — the Mississippian Burlington Limestone and Devonian Cedar Valley Formation are calcareous formations in the south Illinois limestone plateau; the Mississippi River at the Alton-Wood River confluence acquires substantial dissolved mineral content from its extensive Missouri-Illinois carbonate drainage (compare Alton IL: 215/490 in Madison County comparable; Roxana IL: 223/510 in Madison County comparable; Wood River consistent very hard from the same Madison County Mississippi River Mississippian calcareous supply). The Mississippi River at Madison County — Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous — primary hardness contributor), Devonian Cedar Valley Formation (calcareous — secondary contributor), and Quaternary Mississippi River alluvium (calcareous — TDS contributor).
At 219.5 mg/L with TDS 500, Wood River's water is very hard — a water softener is strongly recommended to protect plumbing and appliances. The PFAS level of 7.7 ppt warrants a certified drinking water filter. Review Illinois American Water's annual water quality report.
Geology & Source: Wood River in Madison County draws from the Illinois American Water on the Mississippi River (Madison County, southwest Illinois) — the Mississippi River at Madison County draws from Mississippian Burlington Limestone (calcareous) and Devonian Cedar Valley Formation (calcareous) — Illinois Madison County Mississippi River Mississippian calcareous supply produces very hard water at 219.5 mg/L with TDS 500 mg/L.